Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor-associated pulmonary toxicity: a disproportionality analysis from 2015 to 2023 based on the FAERS database

ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe the pulmonary toxicity of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK 4/6 inhibitors) (palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib) in patients being treated for breast cancer using the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.Research design and MethodsDisproportionality analysis was performed to assess pulmonary toxicity associated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors. Clinical characteristics, onset time, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analyses, drug combinations, comorbidities, and co-reported events were performed.ResultsOut of 83,505 CDK 4/6 inhibitor-related adverse events (AEs) documented in the FAERS database during the study period, 437 cases of pneumonitis, 555 cases of pulmonary edema, and 181 cases of pulmonary thrombosis related to CDK 4/6 inhibitors were analyzed. Pneumonitis and pulmonary thrombosis had the strongest signal strength in abemaciclib; pulmonary edema had the strongest signal strength in ribociclib. The median latency for pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary thrombosis was 66-173.5 days, 27-131 days, and 68-279 days, respectively. Pulmonary toxicity is statistically significant disproportionality in females as well as in patients over 60 years old.ConclusionAbemaciclib was most strongly associated with pneumonitis and pulmonary thrombosis. Ribociclib was most strongly associated with pulmonary edema. The correlation with pulmonary toxicity was, in descending order, abemaciclib, ribociclib, and palbociclib.